Stuttgart rarely rewrites the 911 story in bold strokes. It edits — a little more power here, a sharper line there — until, a few generations on, the car underneath is unrecognisable from where it started. The new Carrera S is one of those quiet rewrites, closing the gap between the standard Carrera and the GTS with enough conviction that the middle of the range no longer feels like a compromise.
Closing the Gap
Within the Carrera family, the S has always been the car built for drivers who wanted more than the entry point but weren’t ready to commit to the outright focus of the GTS. That positioning holds, but the distance between the two has narrowed considerably. The new Carrera S now reaches performance figures that, in the previous generation, were the GTS’s alone — while retaining the everyday manners that have always defined the Carrera line.
The Numbers Behind the Shift
At the heart of the change is a fundamentally reworked 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six. New turbochargers and extensively optimised charge-air cooling deliver 480 PS (353 kW) and 530 Nm of torque — a 30 PS increase over its predecessor, achieved alongside a reduction in emissions rather than at the expense of them.
480 PS
3.3s
191 mph
530 Nm
Power reaches the road through an eight-speed PDK dual-clutch transmission, and the platform borrows its underlying architecture from the previous generation’s 911 Turbo — a detail that says as much about where Porsche sees this car sitting as any spec sheet figure does.
Dynamics, Reconsidered
The standard equipment list has grown substantially, and much of it is dynamics-focused rather than cosmetic. Staggered 20/21-inch Carrera S wheels, a sports exhaust with silver tailpipes, and Porsche Torque Vectoring Plus — not available on the standard Carrera — all come as standard. The brake system, carried over from the 911 Carrera GTS, pairs red callipers with 408 mm front and 380 mm rear discs.
For owners who want to push further, the options list includes the track-proven Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake system and PASM sports suspension, which lowers ride height by 10 mm and adds rear-wheel steering. Porsche has also refined the damper hydraulics over the outgoing model, sharpening responsiveness without sacrificing the everyday comfort the Carrera name has always promised.
An Interior Built for the Everyday
Inside, the Carrera S continues Porsche’s habit of treating luxury as a baseline rather than an upsell. Black leather trims the seats, headrests, dashboard and door panels as standard, with an optional rear seat system available in the Coupé at no additional charge — the Cabriolet includes it from the outset. For owners who want more, an extended leather package covers the glove box lid, side panels and seat base, with Crayon contrast stitching available on request.
Matrix LED headlights and a wireless smartphone charger now come as standard across the range, while the options sheet extends to a front-axle lift system, HD-Matrix LED headlights, and the Sport Chrono package with the Porsche Track Precision app — a nod to owners who’ll take the Carrera S beyond road use entirely.
Ready to Order
The new 911 Carrera S is available now as a Coupé or Cabriolet with rear-wheel drive, priced from £119,800 RRP including VAT for the Coupé and £129,800 RRP including VAT for the Cabriolet. Porsche is also inviting new owners to the Porsche Experience Centre at Silverstone, where a bespoke driving programme lets drivers explore the car’s dynamics — and their own — on track.
At a Glance
Model: 911 Carrera S (Coupé & Cabriolet)
Engine: 3.0-litre twin-turbo flat-six
Power: 480 PS (353 kW) / 530 Nm
Price from: £119,800 RRP inc. VAT
More: newsroom.porsche.com
Not a reinvention — a recalibration. The Carrera S simply asks what the middle of the 911 range should be capable of, and answers with 480 PS.